Huaibei Normal University

About: Huaibei Normal University is a education organization based out in Huaibei, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Photocatalysis & Catalysis. The organization has 2264 authors who have published 2132 publications receiving 41470 citations.

Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China.

Abstract: Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a challenge to psychological resilience. Research data are needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to reduce adverse psychological impacts and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in China to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. The data will be used for future reference. Methods: From 31 January to 2 February 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The online survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms in the past 14 days, contact history with COVID-19, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19, precautionary measures against COVID-19, and additional information required with respect to COVID-19. Psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: This study included 1210 respondents from 194 cities in China. In total, 53.8% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe; 16.5% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 28.8% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms; and 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels. Most respondents spent 20–24 h per day at home (84.7%); were worried about their family members contracting COVID-19 (75.2%); and were satisfied with the amount of health information available (75.1%). Female gender, student status, specific physical symptoms (e.g., myalgia, dizziness, coryza), and poor self-rated health status were significantly associated with a greater psychological impact of the outbreak and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Specific up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and particular precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact of the outbreak and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, more than half of the respondents rated the psychological impact as moderate-to-severe, and about one-third reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Our findings identify factors associated with a lower level of psychological impact and better mental health status that can be used to formulate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.

A longitudinal study on the mental health of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Abstract: In addition to being a public physical health emergency, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected global mental health, as evidenced by panic-buying worldwide as cases soared. Little is known about changes in levels of psychological impact, stress, anxiety and depression during this pandemic. This longitudinal study surveyed the general population twice - during the initial outbreak, and the epidemic's peak four weeks later, surveying demographics, symptoms, knowledge, concerns, and precautionary measures against COVID-19. There were 1738 respondents from 190 Chinese cities (1210 first-survey respondents, 861 s-survey respondents; 333 respondents participated in both). Psychological impact and mental health status were assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), respectively. IES-R measures PTSD symptoms in survivorship after an event. DASS -21 is based on tripartite model of psychopathology that comprise a general distress construct with distinct characteristics. This study found that there was a statistically significant longitudinal reduction in mean IES-R scores (from 32.98 to 30.76, p 24) for PTSD symptoms, suggesting that the reduction in scores was not clinically significant. During the initial evaluation, moderate-to-severe stress, anxiety and depression were noted in 8.1%, 28.8% and 16.5%, respectively and there were no significant longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety and depression levels (p > 0.05). Protective factors included high level of confidence in doctors, perceived survival likelihood and low risk of contracting COVID-19, satisfaction with health information, personal precautionary measures. As countries around the world brace for an escalation in cases, Governments should focus on effective methods of disseminating unbiased COVID-19 knowledge, teaching correct containment methods, ensuring availability of essential services/commodities, and providing sufficient financial support.

New understanding of the difference of photocatalytic activity among anatase, rutile and brookite TiO2

Abstract: In general, anatase TiO2 exhibits higher photocatalytic activities than rutile TiO2. However, the reasons for the differences in photocatalytic activity between anatase and rutile are still being debated. In this work, the band structure, density of states, and effective mass of photogenerated charge carriers for anatase, rutile and brookite TiO2 are investigated by the first-principle density functional theory calculation. The results indicate that anatase appears to be an indirect band gap semiconductor, while rutile and brookite belong to the direct band gap semiconductor category. Indirect band gap anatase exhibits a longer lifetime of photoexcited electrons and holes than direct band gap rutile and brookite because the direct transitions of photogenerated electrons from the conduction band (CB) to valence band (VB) of anatase TiO2 is impossible. Furthermore, anatase has the lightest average effective mass of photogenerated electrons and holes as compared to rutile and brookite. The lightest effective mass suggests the fastest migration of photogenerated electrons and holes from the interior to surface of anatase TiO2 particle, thus resulting in the lowest recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers within anatase TiO2. Therefore, it is not surprising that anatase usually shows a higher photocatalytic activity than rutile and brookite. This investigation will provide some new insight into understanding the difference of photocatalytic activity among anatase, rutile and brookite.

Do psychiatric patients experience more psychiatric symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown? A case-control study with service and research implications for immunopsychiatry.

Abstract: This study aimed to assess and compare the immediate stress and psychological impact experienced by people with and without psychiatric illnesses during the peak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Seventy-six psychiatric patients and 109 healthy control subjects were recruited from Chongqing, China and completed a survey on demographic data, physical symptoms during the past 14 days and a range of psychiatric symptoms using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). IES-R measures PTSD symptoms in survivorship after an event. DASS-21 is based on tripartite model of psychopathology that comprise a general distress construct with distinct characteristics. The mean IES-R, DASS-21 anxiety, depression and stress subscale and ISI scores were higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Serious worries about their physical health, anger and impulsivity and intense suicidal ideation were significantly higher in psychiatric patients than healthy controls (p < 0.05). More than one-third of psychiatric patients might fulfil the diagnostic criteria post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than one-quarter of psychiatric patients suffered from moderately severe to severe insomnia. Respondents who reported no change, poor or worse physical health status and had a psychiatric illness were significantly more likely to have higher mean IES-R, DASS depression, anxiety and stress subscale scores and ISI scores (p < 0.05). This study confirms the severity of negative psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 epidemic with strict lockdown measures. Understanding the psychological impact on psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to provide insight into how to develop a new immunopsychiatry service. Further research is required to compare pro-inflammatory cytokines between psychiatric patients and healthy controls during the pandemic.

Study on the separation mechanisms of photogenerated electrons and holes for composite photocatalysts g-C3N4-WO3

Abstract: The separation mechanisms of photogenerated electrons and holes for composite photocatalysts have been a research focus. In this paper, the composite g-C 3 N 4 -WO 3 photocatalysts with different main parts of C 3 N 4 or WO 3 were prepared by ball milling and heat treatment methods. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) and fuchsin (BF) under visible light illumination. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) methods. The separation mechanisms of photogenerated electrons and holes of the g-C 3 N 4 -WO 3 photocatalysts were investigated by electron spin resonance technology (ESR), photoluminescence technique (PL), and determination of reactive species in the photocatalytic reactions. When the main part of the g-C 3 N 4 -WO 3 photocatalyst is WO 3 (namely g-C 3 N 4 /WO 3 ), the transport process of the photogenerated electrons and holes adopts the generic band–band transfer. Meanwhile, g-C 3 N 4 is covered by WO 3 powder, and the role of g-C 3 N 4 can not be played fully. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst is not obviously increased. However, when the primary part of the WO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst is g-C 3 N 4 (namely WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 ), the migration of photogenerated electrons and holes exhibits a typical characteristic of Z-scheme photocatalyst, and the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst is increased greatly.